Discover Funding Opportunities

Wing Cdr. H. Thompson MBE & Rev. J. L. Green Grassroots Grants Fund

This fund provides grants to charitable volunteer-led grassroots groups in the Barrow-in-Furness area that support young people's personal development, education, and involvement in the community and environmental initiatives. The fund is established by a private individual donor and administered through Cumbria Community Foundation. Priority is given to projects supporting training in leadership, self-discipline, and life skills for young people, respect for the environment, and supporting disadvantaged young people. Examples of supported projects include Ocean Youth Trust sailing trips for disadvantaged young people, equipment for judo or karate clubs, training costs for Scouts or Guides, and running costs or building repairs for Sea Cadets. The fund specifically serves charitable volunteer-led grassroots groups in the Barrow-in-Furness area of Cumbria, England.

Westmorland Community Fund

The Westmorland Community Fund focuses on supporting the communities in which Westmorland Ltd colleagues live. Grants are available for projects that help these communities thrive, create a legacy and deliver long term benefits. The fund was established in 2009 by the Dunning Family of Westmorland Ltd, which includes Tebay Services, Rheged, Westmorland Hotel and J38 Truckstop. Priority is given to projects that help named communities to thrive, support young people to reach their potential, improve mental health and wellbeing, have synergies with the Westmorland Family's business interests around sustainable development and awareness of the value of local produce, farming and craft, and have the potential to grow and have a real legacy. The fund serves the communities of Appleby-in-Westmorland, Brough, Kirkby Stephen, Penrith, Stainton, Shap, Tebay and Kendal. In addition to providing grant funding, Westmorland aims to build lasting, supportive relationships with the groups it supports. The goal is to create a two-way connection to ensure a circular benefit – where funded organisations, local communities, and Westmorland colleagues can share ideas, learn from each other, and grow stronger together over time. Examples of supported projects include skills training programmes boosting young people's confidence and employability, mental health workshops offering peer support, community building renovation, youth clubs offering creative and active sessions, and enterprise projects supporting new ideas through mentoring and training. Grants range from £500 to £10,000, with multi-year grants considered for projects that show strong potential to grow their impact over time. The fund supports community groups that work with young people, manage community facilities, or operate community-based services in the eligible area.

The Solway Fund

The Solway Fund provides grants to volunteer-led and community groups helping children and young adults in the Maryport and Workington areas. The fund aims to enable children and young adults to develop skills that equip them for adult life. Supported activities include personal development, activities that improve confidence and life skills, accredited and non-accredited training, mentoring and peer support, and activities that prevent children and young people from developing problems that lead to difficulties later in life. The fund does not support individuals, in addition to the foundation's normal exclusions. Grants normally range from £500 to £2,000 over one year, supporting youth development initiatives in the local community.

The Janet Hartley Fund

The Janet Hartley Fund provides grants for charitable, not-for-profit organisations delivering projects that benefit communities within the towns and surrounding areas of Appleby, Brough, Kendal, Kirkby Stephen, Penrith, Sedbergh, and Tebay in Cumbria, England. This fund was created for Out of Eden in 2016 and renamed The Janet Hartley Fund in 2025 in honor of Janet Hartley, who founded the company with her husband in 1993. Janet was a committed Christian who believed in community service and supporting organisations that strengthened local society. The fund continues her legacy of supporting local charities and organisations that strengthen local communities and help those in need. Grants support projects including support for workers helping vulnerable families with young children, youth mentoring and skills development programmes, activities for rurally isolated older people, and vocational training and education for people with disabilities.

The Border Fund

The Border Fund provides grants to support disadvantaged individuals and groups in Cumbria, with priority given to rural areas northeast of Carlisle, including north and east of Longtown, and through to Gilsland and Newbiggin, though funding covers the whole of Cumbria. The fund prioritizes projects that increase personal skills and independence, support individuals and communities in rural areas, support groups helping people build long-term skills, support disadvantaged individuals over the age of 25 who wish to change career, and support mental health. Examples of supported projects include groups supporting adults with homelessness, hearing loss, or domestic violence; groups providing training to build skills and confidence to disadvantaged adults over 25; mature students seeking a career change or professional qualification; and hardship costs enabling completion of studies or courses.

The Barker Family Fund

The Barker Family Fund provides grants for not-for-profit organisations which help to empower young people and support the advancement of education, and for disadvantaged young people, including young farmers, aged 25 and under who live in Cumbria. The fund prioritizes activities which support the advancement of education, projects that help and empower young people, disadvantaged young people under 25, and young farmers. Examples of supported activities include business training for young people, supporting young people with a disability into employment, disadvantaged young farmers who need further qualifications, and promoting life skills and confidence in young people. The fund will not support staff costs for youth groups, trips, or university costs in addition to normal exclusions.

Staff 10th Anniversary Fund

The Staff 10th Anniversary Fund provides grants for projects which support the Foundation's priorities in two main themes: Improving Lives and Strengthening Communities. Under Improving Lives, the fund addresses reducing poverty, reaching potential, improving health, and tackling social inequality. Under Strengthening Communities, it supports nurturing sense of place and acting on climate change. The fund was established by former and current staff of Cumbria Community Foundation to support both charitable groups and individuals in Cumbria. Example projects include specialized equipment for disabled children, travel costs for elderly individuals, hospitality and cooking courses for socially disadvantaged young people, and community sports days. Grants normally range up to £1,000 over one year, though there is no maximum award amount. The fund is currently closed and will not accept applications again until April 2026.

Shepley Group Grassroots Fund

The Shepley Group Grassroots Fund provides grants to charitable and not-for-profit organisations for initiatives that reduce poverty, improve health, tackle social inequality, and help people reach their potential. The fund also supports projects that nurture a sense of place or promote climate action. Priority is given to projects that benefit people and communities in areas where Shepley Group employees live, specifically within the former local authority districts of Allerdale, Barrow-in-Furness, Carlisle, and Copeland in Cumbria, England. The fund is administered by Cumbria Community Foundation and supported by Shepley Engineers Limited. Examples of supported projects include equipment for junior football clubs, community cafés, community allotments, refurbishment of spaces for community workshops, functional skill classes for unemployed people aged 16+, and respite activities for young carers. Grants are normally up to £2,000 over one year. The fund does not support individuals in addition to the foundation's normal exclusions. Applications are welcome from charitable and not-for-profit organisations working to address community needs in the specified geographic areas of Cumbria.

Programme and Project Partners (PPP) Social Impact Fund

The Programme and Project Partners (PPP) Social Impact Fund provides grants to individuals and organisations in the former local authority areas of Allerdale and Copeland in Cumbria, England. The fund enables access to educational and training activities that raise career aspirations, support individuals in becoming work ready, facilitate entry into meaningful employment, and remove barriers to employment and economic participation. Priority is given to projects supporting unemployed people in gaining skills, training, and employment opportunities, reaching individuals with complex barriers to employment, and helping people in areas of high deprivation move closer towards or into employment. The fund is currently closed and will not be accepting applications again until April 2026.

Printers Inc Social Mobility Fund

The Printers Inc Social Mobility Fund provides grants to charitable groups supporting young people who reside in Cumbria, with preference for disadvantaged young people aged between 14-25. The fund aims to improve their life skills, education, employability and enterprise. Education includes academic, occupational or social education, the acquisition of life or employment skills, physical, sporting, music or other artistic skills. The fund is administered by Cumbria Community Foundation and donated by CN Group Limited (proprietor of Cumbria Newspapers). Priority is given to activities that support equipment for further education, employability programmes, bringing businesses and young people together to equip them for work, interview training, and programmes for young people studying music, sport or the arts. Multi-year funding may be considered.

Nuvia Fund

The Nuvia Fund provides grants for voluntary community groups and organisations that promote the long-term sustainability of areas local to the Nuvia site and project activities in the former boroughs of Allerdale and Copeland. The fund is administered by Cumbria Community Foundation and supported by Nuvia Limited. Priority is given to projects that improve skills for disadvantaged people, improve employability of young people, promote healthier, safer, and more resilient communities, and have environmental or sustainability initiatives. The fund supports grassroots community groups and local partnerships working to make a positive impact in West Cumbria. Grants typically range from £500 to £1,000 over one year to support community-based projects such as wildlife gardens, youth activities and workshops, and educational environmental activities for disadvantaged young people.

New Balance Get Active Fund

The New Balance Get Active Fund provides grants for charitable and community-based organisations that support children and young people (ages 5-25) through sport and physical activity used as a tool for social impact. Projects should go beyond fitness to help build confidence, leadership, resilience, social connection, and life skills. The fund aims to achieve outcomes such as building life and work skills through mentoring, coaching courses, or interview preparation; supporting young people who face extra challenges or fewer opportunities because of their background or life situation; and demonstrating long-term impact, such as improving health, confidence, or future education and job prospects. Priority is given to projects based in or serving communities around Flimby and organisations working with marginalised children and young people, especially those who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET), at risk of school exclusion, refugees or asylum seekers, newly arrived migrants, have experience of the care system, or are affected by exploitation, homelessness, or domestic abuse.

Lord Bragg Fund for Wigton

The Lord Bragg Fund for Wigton provides grants for individuals aged 11-25 who reside or study in Wigton, or for groups supporting children and young people in Wigton, to engage in positive activities and/or access education or training which raises aspirations. Applications from individuals who live in the town of Wigton will be the priority. The fund specifically targets young people facing challenging circumstances such as low-income households, recent bereavement, chronic illness, care-experienced individuals, those impacted by domestic violence, young carers, those at risk of school exclusion, or those at risk of becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training). Applications from individuals must be supported by a teacher or lecturer from their designated school or Further Education college. The fund supports costs associated with work-experience activities, instruments for talented musicians, theatre workshops for aspiring actors, training costs for aspiring athletes, and life skills sessions focusing on finance, housing, and money management. Groups supporting young people in Wigton can also apply to develop skills that will equip them for adult life.

Gibb Charitable Trust Fund

The Gibb Charitable Trust Fund provides grants to support students and trainees in vocational studies. The Trust was established in the 1930s to enable incoming firms to train labour in what was the West Cumberland Development Area. The Trustees subsequently amended the criteria to assist students and trainees, and the Trust's assets were transferred to Cumbria Community Foundation in 2007 to create The Gibb Charitable Trust Fund. This fund is open to individuals aged 16 years and over who have been a resident and/or employed for not less than two years in the former districts of Allerdale (excluding the parish of Keswick), Copeland or the Parish of Alston Moor. Priority is given to activities which support the advancement of education and provide employment skills for disadvantaged individuals. The fund supports activities such as hairdressing kit and uniform for college courses, work experience activities, activities that are part of a further or higher education course, and equipment and travel costs. Grants will normally be £500 over one year. The fund does not support groups, only individuals.

Evening Hill Grassroots Fund

The Evening Hill Grassroots Fund provides grants to groups throughout Cumbria to enable them to continue or expand their work in advocacy, community voice, and service provision for local people. The fund is managed by Cumbria Community Foundation and funded by private individuals. Priority is given to projects which support groups and organisations benefitting children and young people, improve the quality of life for elderly people, support the priority age group within disadvantaged communities in Cumbria, support disadvantaged people where the grant will make a difference to their lives, and projects along the west coast and high deprivation areas. Examples of supported projects include improvements to community buildings, education and building life skills programs, woodcraft classes for older people in rurally isolated areas, and IT classes in rural areas. The fund is currently closed and will not be accepting applications again until April 2026.

Education Fund (Cumbria)

The Education Fund (Cumbria) provides grants to support all types of educational activities for disadvantaged people of any age in Cumbria. This fund is managed by the Cumbria Community Foundation and comprises various trusts that have been transferred to the Foundation. Priority is given to projects which support academic or social skills, life or employment skills, and sport or artistic skills. The fund supports a wide range of educational needs including course-related costs such as books, computer equipment, and travel expenses, as well as training and development opportunities for individuals and community groups. Examples of supported projects include kit and training costs for aspiring athletes, voucher schemes for training courses for young farmers, community gardens helping young offenders develop social and employment skills, and arts workshops for older people to develop independence and increase learning. Grants are available to both individuals who reside in Cumbria and voluntary and community groups based in Cumbria, with household income taken into account when assessing applications from individuals.

Edmond Castle Educational Trust Fund

The Edmond Castle Educational Trust Fund provides grants to support the education and training of disadvantaged young people under the age of 21 in Cumbria. The fund prioritizes young people who are, or have been, looked after by Cumberland Council or Westmorland and Furness Council. The trust supports activities that help build self-confidence and skills, promote civic engagement and leadership, cover equipment or course fees, and provide new opportunities for young people to train and learn. Examples of funded projects include fees for private tutors, travel expenses to sports training, course-related costs for academic study, and development of employment skills for young people. Both individuals under 21 and volunteer-led community groups and organizations that work with young people are eligible to apply.

David and Margaret Rankin Fund (Skills and Training)

The David and Margaret Rankin Fund provides grants for individuals and groups to empower young people to realise their potential, pursue their aspirations, and further their skills and training which supports their journey into business or employment. Priority is given to projects that help and empower young people, activities that support the development of knowledge or skills, and activity that encourages young people into farming. Examples of supported activities include business training for young people, mentoring programmes, courses for industry-specific certificates of competency, and travel expenses to support work experience. Grants for individuals will normally be up to £1,000 over one year, while grants for groups will normally be up to £5,000 over one year. Grants may be a single award, or a series of awards paid annually for up to three years and dependent on progress.

Cumbria Young People's Fund (Individuals)

The Cumbria Young People's Fund (Individuals) provides grants to young people aged 14-22 to help them fulfill their potential and develop life skills. The fund supports academic study and courses to improve practical skills or personal development, activities that are part of further or higher education courses, and activities leading to vocational qualifications. Grants can be used for the purchase of books, materials and computer equipment, bursary support, and travel costs. The fund is administered by Cumbria Community Foundation and is supported by a private individual donor. The maximum grant is normally £2,000 per year. Community groups and school trips are not supported by this fund.

Cumbria Young People's Fund

The Cumbria Young People's Fund provides grants to help young people aged 14-22 fulfil their potential and develop life skills. The fund supports both individuals and charitable organizations working with young people in this age range. For individuals, grants support educational and personal development costs, including university living expenses, travel and equipment for educational courses. For groups, the fund supports social and personal development activities, anti-bullying workshops, programs to build confidence and resilience, independent living skills, and prevention programs addressing issues like sexual exploitation. The fund is managed by Cumbria Community Foundation and was established by a private individual donor to support youth development across Cumbria.

Cumbria Tourism 50th Anniversary Fund

The Cumbria Tourism 50th Anniversary Fund provides grants for people aged 16 and over to help raise educational attainment and career aspirations in the Cumbrian tourism and hospitality sectors by enabling access to study, vocational training and employment. This fund supports individuals who are living, studying, training or newly employed in the tourism or hospitality sector in Cumbria. The fund helps cover essential costs that enable people to pursue education and career opportunities in these sectors, including specialist equipment, course fees, study materials, travel costs, and hardship costs that enable completion of studies or training programs. Household income is taken into account when assessing applications, and evidence of anticipated expenditure is required with each application.

Cumbria Industries Amenities Fund

The Cumbria Industries Amenities Fund provides grants to groups offering support to people with disabilities. Originally established to assist workers at the Workshops for the Blind in Carlisle, the Fund was expanded in the 1980s when the Workshops extended their services to include people with all types of disabilities. The Fund was transferred to Cumbria Community Foundation by Cumbria County Council in 2008. Priority is given to projects that provide activities and equipment for disabled people in Cumbria, as well as those supporting vocational work and training for disabled people in the Carlisle area. Examples of supported projects include cookery lessons for people with learning difficulties, accredited training for people with disabilities, active sports development programmes, and equipment to assist blind people during training.

Cumbria Fund

The Cumbria Fund provides grants for charitable projects that address Cumbria Community Foundation's two key priorities: Improving Lives and Strengthening Communities. Theme 1: Improving Lives focuses on reducing poverty by providing opportunities for financial stability including support for financial advice, food and fuel security, and housing stability; reaching potential by empowering people, especially children and young people, through education, skills development, and personal growth; improving health by addressing unmet health needs, reducing inequalities, and promoting wellbeing including mental health services; and tackling social inequality by promoting equality, inclusion, and social justice for those facing systemic barriers. Theme 2: Strengthening Communities focuses on nurturing sense of place by creating stronger, more inclusive communities where people feel connected, safe, and supported; and acting on climate change through local action that builds environmental resilience and empowers communities to respond to the climate crisis. The fund prioritises revenue (operational) costs over capital (infrastructure or equipment) costs for more immediate and sustained impact. Examples of supported projects include advisory services on tackling debt and benefit entitlement, youth mentoring and skills development programmes, community mental health drop-in sessions, language classes for refugees and asylum seekers, digital access support in rural communities, and community-led climate action workshops.

Cumberland Educational Foundation Fund

The Cumberland Educational Foundation Fund provides grants to support the education of young people under the age of 25 who live, or whose parents live, in the former county of Cumberland (Allerdale, Copeland, Carlisle and the northern part of Eden districts) and who are in need of financial assistance. The fund supports a wide range of educational and training-related costs including kit and training expenses for aspiring athletes, course-related costs such as books, computer equipment, and travel expenses, theatre workshops for young people, voucher schemes for training and technical courses for young farmers, and community projects like gardens which help young offenders develop social and employment skills. Grants will normally be less than £2,000 over one year, though there is no minimum or maximum award amount. Awards may be given as a single payment or as a series of payments over up to three years, dependent on progress. The fund is administered by Cumbria Community Foundation and is currently closed until April 2026.

CiFR Community Flood Resilience Fund

The CiFR Community Flood Resilience Fund provides grants to organizations across Cumbria to support communities in building resilience to flooding and adapting to climate change. The fund has three primary purposes: (1) to provide support, resources, and equipment to communities at risk of flooding, including the indirect impacts such as power loss and displaced residents; (2) to enable those communities to test and trial ways to become better prepared for flooding and its impact; and (3) to enable communities to be better able to respond to and recover from flooding by building awareness, skills, and capacity within their community. The fund supports equipment purchases such as flood barriers, radios, torches, hi-vis clothing, pumps, generators, and battery packs, as well as activities and training to improve community resilience including community events, first aid training, and events connecting communities with local responder organizations. In specific larger communities (Appleby, Carlisle, Cockermouth, Kendal, and Keswick), funding is also available for Community Emergency Response Coordinators. The fund is administered by Cumbria Community Foundation and aims to strengthen community emergency planning, response, and recovery capabilities throughout the region.

CCL Secure Fund

The CCL Secure Fund provides grants for small voluntary and community groups and organisations providing activities that benefit people and communities in the former districts of Allerdale and Copeland in Cumbria. The fund prioritizes projects that improve the lives of disadvantaged children and families, improve life skills, education, employability and enterprise for disadvantaged people, support vulnerable older people, improve the health and wellbeing of people, and strengthen and support fragile communities. Examples of supported projects include improvement of facilities for disabled people, staff salaries for youth clubs for disadvantaged young people, drop-in services for people with mental health problems, advisory services on tackling debt and benefit entitlement, and access to services which tackle social isolation for older people. Grants will normally be between £500 – £2,500 over one year, although there is no maximum award amount.